Missouri Primary Election Tues, Aug 2nd, 2016: Voter guide - Find your polling place, ballots, candidates, issues

Missouri's primary elections are being held across the state on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016.

"I bicycle - I walk - I run and I vote" is one of the most powerful statements we can make to any elected leader, in our work to make Missouri a better, safer place to walk and bicycle.

I bicycle and I vote!

So whatever your party, whoever your candidates, whatever your issues, please get out and VOTE on Tuesday, August 2nd.

MoBikeFed Voter Guide for the August 2nd, 2016, Primary Election

Finding your polling place and sample ballot

• Polling places are open 6am to 7pm on Election Day. You will need some form of ID.  More info and FAQ about voting here.
   
• Find your polling place here - lists your polling place with address.  
   
• Locate your local election authority's web site here - most local election authorities have local lists of candidates, ballot initiatives, and sample ballots.
   
• Ballotpedia shows your sample ballot with all local candidates, issues, and links to further information (Vote411 is another similar resource for those in the greater STL region)
   
• You can vote absentee ballot starting six weeks before the election--though you must have a reason, such as traveling on election day 

About Missouri's Primary Elections

• This is a primary election, so you first declare your party: Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Constitution Party.  
   
• You will then be presented with a list of candidates for that party; the winners from each party will meet in the final elections in November.
   
• You can declare any party you wish.  You don't have to choose the party you chose last time, the party you usually vote for, or follow any other rule--by Missouri law, you simply declare to the election official which party's primary you wish to vote in.
   
• You can also declare "Non-partisan".  That means you will vote only on ballot issues, not any any party's primary candidates.

Information about candidates

• Links to websites of candidates for statewide office and Congress
   
• Information about Missouri State House of Representatives Candidates 
   
• Information about Missouri State Senate Candidates
   
• Information about candidates for Local Judge offices
   
• Put any state or federal candidate's name into the Project VoteSmart search box to find background, biographical information, and links to the candidate's web site.

August 2016 Statewide Ballot Issues

There are no statewide ballot issues on the August 2016 ballot.  Two ballot measures are scheduled for the November 2016 election--find out more about them here.

Local Ballot Issues

Many local municipalities will have issues on the ballot.  You can google location:mo cityname elections to find local information.

A few local highlights:

• Many cities are voting whether to retain sales and use tax on out-of-state vehicle sales. All cities have been collecting this tax but a recent Missouri Supreme Court decision held that cities could not continue to collect the tax without a vote of the people. Explanation here (for Blue Springs, MO--the explanation is similar for all Missouri cities).
   
• Columbia is proposing to increase hotel lodging tax by 1% to build and airport terminal